Battery Vent??

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scjmc

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So......It was the coldest morning of this year (48 degrees) and the LS started slow. About 1 minute into driving I started getting "check charging system" and the battery light was on. After about 10 minutes of driving everything went back to normal. I have suspected the battery for some time now, so I got a new group 66 from Motorcraft. When I installed it I noticed that the hose that vents the battery outside the car is missing! Does anyone have a pic of the vent tube? I am not sure where it goes, but I see a hole directly behind the bumper. A pic would be apreciated if anyone has one. Also has anyone else had charging sysmptoms like that? I hope it isn't the alternator (puts out 14.2V at idle with headlights and AC on).
 
I just so happen to have a spare battery vent tube. I replaced my motorcraft battery with an Optima yellow top, and don't need my old vent tube anymore.

And to let those who may ask know, yes, my optima yellow top is vented to the exterior, just like the stock battery. All it took was some creativity:

battery.jpg
 
pektel said:
I just so happen to have a spare battery vent tube. I replaced my motorcraft battery with an Optima yellow top, and don't need my old vent tube anymore.

And to let those who may ask know, yes, my optima yellow top is vented to the exterior, just like the stock battery. All it took was some creativity:
Click to expand...

Nice job with the vent! Did you fab that up with stuff from Pep Boys/Auto Zone/Krager/etc.?
 
I thought I saw another thread that said the battery did have to be vented, the car will not explode and the tech even hit a telephone pole to prove it...

or somethin' like that...
 
LS4me said:
Nice job with the vent! Did you fab that up with stuff from Pep Boys/Auto Zone/Krager/etc.?
Click to expand...

Actually it was from the plumbing department at home depot... Clear hose was .69 per foot, and those fittings to fit the hoses ran between 1.00 and 3.00 each I think. They were probably even cheaper than that.

The hose was 7/8" OD, and 5/8" ID, and the fittings I just put together from their bins. Since then, I've painted the 2 fittings on top of the battery yellow, to match the battery top.

Here's the thread where I described the install:

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=48188
 
Quik LS said:
I thought I saw another thread that said the battery did have to be vented, the car will not explode and the tech even hit a telephone pole to prove it...

or somethin' like that...
Click to expand...


:lol:
 
Thanks for the replies everyone. Looks like it vents to where I thought it did. Its nice knowing I have been driving around for 4 years with the old battery venting into the passanger compartment.
 
Eric0508 said:
LOL at "coldest morning of the year" at 48 degrees, im jealous.
Click to expand...

Seriously, we had 3 cold fronts in a row. The third one dropped it into the high 40's. That is freaking cold for down here. The homeless guys must have frozen to death!
 
This was the first morning in about 7 days where it was above zero up here. 3 above felt warm this morning!
 
pektel said:
This was the first morning in about 7 days where it was above zero up here. 3 above felt warm this morning!
Click to expand...

Ahhhh..... Yet another 80º day! And darn it, another 10 days of this :p
 
Mines came from the dealership without a vent tube and been driving my LS for 2 years...Hope I won't hit a telephone pole......
 
LS4me said:
Ahhhh..... Yet another 80º day! And darn it, another 10 days of this :p
Click to expand...

I hate you :p

Maybe the USPS guys are on vacation there. Those springs are taking forever to get here! Or maybe it's just me...
 
My check charging system alert came on this morning. Then went off. About 2 miles down the road all electrical shut off, no headlights, no stereo, no heat. But, Abe kept running. So, I limped to the closest place that sells batteries and got to swap out the battery this morning in my nice work clothes. 15 degrees, and windy as hell. Of course, I didn't have a socket wrench.

It sucked. But the new battery fixed it right up.
 
pektel said:
I just so happen to have a spare battery vent tube. I replaced my motorcraft battery with an Optima yellow top, and don't need my old vent tube anymore.

And to let those who may ask know, yes, my optima yellow top is vented to the exterior, just like the stock battery. All it took was some creativity:
Click to expand...

Brilliant, that's using the ol' noodle! Thanks for sharing! The vent tube is a unique feature to the LS.
 
ToddG said:
Brilliant, that's using the ol' noodle! Thanks for sharing! The vent tube is a unique feature to the LS.
Click to expand...

Not true. Many GM cars have the battery under the rear seat. Those have dual vent tubes. I believe that some BMW's also have batteries with vent tube(s). Probably other makes have them too.

Unusual or uncommon, yes. Unique, no.
 
My 2006 has a tube running off of it, but nowhere for it to go out? The tube looks like it is factory plugged or something. Motorcraft battery...
 
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